Unix Create a File Command

1. Unix cat command
2. echo or printf command
3. vi text editor
4. emacs text editor
5. joe text editor
6. Any other console based text editor

Method #1: Creating a file using echo command

Open the Terminal and then type the following command to create a file called demo.txt, enter:

echo 'The only winning move is not to play.' > demo.txt

OR

printf 'The only winning move is not to play.\n' > demo.txt

OR create a file with two lines in demo-1.txt file:

printf 'The only winning move is not to play.\n Source: WarGames movie\n' > demo-1.txt

To examine the contents of the file you have just created is to type the following command at shell prompt:
cat demo.txt
cat demo-1.txt
Sample outputs:

Fig.01: Examine the contents of the file you’ve just created with cat command.

Method #2: Creating a file using cat command

In this example, create a file named quotes.txt and enter one line of text in it, type the following at the shell prompt:

cat > quotes.txt

You need to press the [Enter] or [Return] key. Finally type the text:

There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. 

Again, press the [Enter] or [Return] key. To stop and save file entry by typing Control+d on a line by itself i.e Press and hold down the Control key and type d. On your screen you will see as follows:
cat > quotes.txt
There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation.
To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose.
^D

OR

Animated gif 01: Creating a file with cat command

cat quotes.txt

Method #3: Create a text file using vi / vim text editor

vi / vim is a text editor. To create a file called text.txt, type:
$ vi bar.txt
Press i to insert new text. To save the file and leave vi, type ESC+:+x (press ESC key, type : followed by x and [enter] key).

How do I edit a file just created?

You need to use a text editor such as vi or emacs:
vi filename
Grab mastering the VI editor pdf file for more information on how to use a text editor (see below for link).

Further readings

• Learn more about vi here : Download mastering the VI editor pdf version.
• See man pages: ksh(1)